Capitol tree visits Amarillo

Serenity Salazar gets help from Mika Gonzales Saturday as she signs the side of the truck carrying the "People's Tree," during a stop at the downtown branch of Amarillo Public Library on its way to the Capitol Building in Washington.

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Local residents gathered at the Amarillo Public Library downtown branch Friday to enjoy music, food and fun, as the 2013 Capitol Christmas Tree made one of 22 stops on its way to Washington, D.C.

The visit marks the third year in a row the city has been included on tour, said Sonja Gross, city spokeswoman. Each year, a tree is selected from a different national forest before traveling across the country to the spend the holiday season at the U.S. Capitol.

Beth Duke, Center City executive director, said the event gives families a chance to spend time together, take pictures and speak with Santa and Mrs. Claus and explore the library. Employees from B&W Pantex provided refreshments while firefighters from the Fire Station No. 10 led interactive demonstrations in the Kid’s Fire Safety House. Attendees also met Smokey the Bear and listened to a musical performance by the Sweet Adelines.

“I think it’s great,” said Becky Urias, who attended with her son, Joseph, grandson, Eric, and best friend, Yen Lam. “You get to be a part of the tree that goes to the Capitol, a part of history.”

Gyorgy Loczi, an Amarillo High School exchange student from Hungary, attended the festivities with his host family. Loczi, who has been in Amarillo for just three months, said he enjoyed the experience.

“It’s very cool,” said Loczi of the tree.

Gayne Sears, district ranger with the Collville National Forest in northeast Washington state, said a group began preparing for the tour about 18 months ago.

Sears said the tree selected from the forest is an 88-foot-tall Engelmann spruce. The tree needs to drink about 30 gallons of water per day.

The tree and companion trees, which will decorate offices in the Capitol, will be decorated with 6,000 ornaments handmade by Washington state children, Sears said.

“We’re sharing Washington’s good nature,” Sears said. “We’re trying to help our American people get a better feel for what their national forests provide.”